The Foreign Service Journal, September 2020

Diversity in the Foreign Service From the FSJ Archive Diversity—Not Just a Cause for the Underrepresented Individuals who question how they fit into a diverse workplace should remember that the value of diversity is not in an individual’s race, gender or ethnicity; it is in the experi- ences and insights that those attributes often bring. Diversity may refer to innate char- acteristics, but it can also be acquired. All of us bring unique life experiences to our work, and employees who focus on their lack of physical manifestations of diversity will miss valuable opportu- nities to contribute to a diverse team. I appreciate that my current office leadership prioritized recruiting a diverse team. When we gather for staff meetings, we have a mix of backgrounds, races, genders and ethnicities. With fewer people at the table like me, I feel like my opinion has more value. Conversations include a rich variety of perspectives. When I share my thoughts, I must reflect and provide support for my positions. This doesn’t just provide our teamwith a broader range of ideas; it forces individuals to ensure their proposals are well thought out before they bring them to the group. In other words, I have to think harder and communicate better in a diverse environment. Diversity makes me a better officer and diplomat. —Jay Porter, September 2018 Ebenezer Bassett: The Legacy of America’s First African-American Diplomat Just days after the Battle of Gettysburg, Bassett and other black leaders organized a recruiting drive for black soldiers. Bassett had the honor of being the second speaker of the night, making his speech immediately preceding [Frederick] Douglass. The following excerpt explains why he, too, was considered such an effective orator: “Men of color, to arms! Now or never! This is our golden moment. The government of the United States calls for every able- bodied colored man to enter the army for three years of service and join in fighting the battles of liberty and the Union. A new era is open to us. For generations we have suffered under the horrors of slavery, outrage and wrong; our manhood has been denied, our citizenship blotted out, our souls seared and burned, our spirits cowed and crushed, and the hopes of the future of our race involved in doubts and darkness. “But how the whole aspect of our relations to the white race is changed! Now, therefore, is the most precious moment. Let us rush to arms! Fail now, and our race is doomed on this soul of our birth.” That activism proved crucial years later when General Ulysses Grant won the White House in 1868. The new president was eager to reward leaders in the black community like Bassett who had helped preserve the Union. —Chris Teal, June 2018 Diversity in Diplomacy: The Mentoring Dimension The different perspectives that come from embracing diversity can give the United States a kind of asymmetric advantage— the challenge is to leverage that advantage. It is no secret that the Foreign Service needs more diversity. According to the 2014 promotion statistics, gender and racial disparity persists in pro- motions and the gaps widen at the Senior Foreign Service level. … We believe that a robust mentorship program is vital to achiev- ing and sustaining greater diversity in the Foreign Service. The State Department’s advancements in recruiting minorities and ensuring equity across the diversity spectrum should be expanded to sustain diversity into the senior ranks. —Jennifer Zimdahl Galt andThao Anh Tran, June 2015 Hispanic Representation at USAID: Why So Low for So Long? Periodically, I am asked to speak to Hispanic and minority students aspiring to enter the Foreign Service or the U.S. Agency for International Development. I can hardly resist the chance to tell my own life story and describe the places where USAID has sent me. The Foreign Service is a great career, I tell them, and I encourage them to consider taking the plunge. 48 SEPTEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FOCUS ON ADDRESSING RACE, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION